5 simple tricks to make the treadmill less terrible

It’s officially treadmill season in Canada, which means that runners across the great north are looking for ways to improve their experience on the indoor conveyor belt.

RELATED: Should you run on an empty stomach?

Matt Hughes is the Canadian record-holder in the steeplechase who recently relocated from Portland back to Toronto. As Hughes adjusts to the harsher Canadian winters, he’s also accepting that the treadmill is part of training like a Canuck. Hughes reached out to Twitter for advice on how to make his indoor miles more palatable and he got some great responses from many different kinds of runners.

RELATED: Why Matt Hughes left the Bowerman Track Club

Adjust the grade

Adjust the grade every once in a while to break things up. Still hell though.

— Reid Coolsaet (@ReidCoolsaet) December 3, 2019

Reid Coolsaet, one of Canada’s fastest-ever marathoners, recommends that runners adjust the grade while running to break up the workout.

Don’t look at the time and distance

Put a towel over the distance / time. iPad with Netflix. When I was on the elliptical I was able to read on the iPad but haven’t tried it on the treadmill. For some reason binge watching shows is more distracting for me than music.

— scott olberding (@isthatsol) December 3, 2019

A treadmill minute can sometimes feel like an hour. Scott Olberding recommends putting a towel over the distance and time markers and binge-watching your favourite show.

Wear a lighter shoe

https://twitter.com/GBrimmer1/status/1201843271242260480

Wearing a lighter shoe, like your lighter trainers or racing flats, can help runners avoid the clunky feeling that can come from treadmill runs.

Play with your speed

Speed manipulation every minute or few changing it up by 0.1km.h, you can do some great progression runs like this. Or breaking it up into small chunks.

— Jamie Langley (@Jamie_langley1) December 3, 2019

If you’ve got a steady long run on the docket, play with your treadmill speed the same way your speed would naturally fluctuate on the road or trails.

Watch race videos

I've watched all of YouTube's distances races last winter on the treadmill. Olympic game, WC, WXC, Marathon majors, WR… Also TV shoes with subtitles (cauz I don't hear a think on the treadmill)

— anthony larouche (@TawnyLarouche) December 3, 2019

Training through the winter months for a spring race can cause a runner’s interest to wane. If you’re struggling to find the motivation to hop on the treadmill, put on either a video recap from your goal race, or a race that one of your running idols crushed–this can help you find the motivation you need.